Tulip Diamonds FZE I The Diamond Blog

Every year Lauren B covers the hottest trends in fine jewelry, engagement rings, and popular diamond shapes, giving you a sneak peek of what’s been popular in our showroom. The following blog post will cover the top diamond shapes of 2024, offering intriguing facts and personalized shopping tips we love to share.

#6 of 2024: Antique Cushion Cut

Antique cushion cuts exude artisan quality from the past, displaying a glowing beauty with softer corners compared to contemporary shapes. Antique cushion cuts are also called Old Mine cuts, peaking in popularity in the 19th century and seeing a resurgence of appreciation today with their rich history.

Appearance:

Cushion cuts have a steeper and larger crown with an elongated or square shape than their contemporaries; the crown is the area of the diamond between the table (top) and the girdle. The table is also smaller compared to the round brilliant. Antique cushion cuts feature an open, visible culet (bottom facet). Due to the number of facets and shape (average 58), Antique cuts hide faint color well, making them a great choice for lower color grade stones.

Shopping Tips:

Lauren B recommends choosing an antique or Old Mine Cut diamond with a color grade range of D-J (colorless to near colorless), reducing the possible appearance of slight color tints.
A lower color grade (K-Z) gives the diamond a soft, understated color, adding to the overall vintage effect.
We recommend SI2 clarity or above for antique cuts; however, it is always important to note the location, size, shape, and color of the inclusions with any diamond shape.
Antique cuts can obscure lower clarity grade diamonds, hiding internal growth characteristics with their impressive number of facets.
At Lauren B, we offer lab-grown diamond antique cuts in oval, emerald, and modified/hybrid shapes, making each antique cut a unique treasure to cherish as a keepsake or heirloom.

3.03 carat Antique Cushion Lab Diamond Solitaire Ring

3.02 Antique Cushion Lab Diamond Three-Stone Ring

#5 of 2024: Emerald Cut

The emerald cut was invented in the 1500s when gem cutters needed a specialized cut to protect the emerald (beryl) stone because of its inherent fragility.

Appearance:

Emerald cuts consist of approximately 57 facets with a rectangular or square shape and cut corners. As step cuts, their facets descend from the table unlike brilliant cuts. The emerald cut gained popularity in the 1920s Art Deco era for its geometric, architectural shape.

Shopping Tips:

Since emerald cuts have a step cut facet arrangement and a large table, they are best suited for diamonds with higher color and clarity grades, as imperfections are easily visible through the table.
Lauren B recommends choosing diamonds with a D-J (colorless to near colorless) color grade for an emerald cut because slight color tints will be more obvious.
The highest clarity grade possible is best suited for this cut; or a VS2 and above.

3.17 carat Emerald Cut Lab Diamond Baguette Wrap Ring

4.15 carat Emerald Cut Lab Diamond Three-Stone Ring

#4 of 2024: Cushion Cut

Modified brilliant cushion cuts display show-stopping brilliance and fire, hiding inclusions and slight tints of color within its facets.

Appearance:

The cushion cut diamond typically has a square or rectangular shape with soft, rounded edges, giving it a romantic pillow shape. Varieties of cushion cut diamonds include brilliant cuts, antique cuts/Old Mine cuts, and crushed ice cuts containing 100-200 facets, creating a dispersed, shimmering sparkle and a striking “crushed ice” effect.

Shopping Tips:

Lauren B recommends J color grade and above for cushion cuts; however, lower color grades can also be great due to the number of facets and varieties (such as crushed ice) that help hide imperfections.
We suggest SI2 clarity and higher. However, lower clarity grades should also be considered, as imperfections may be hidden by facets.

5.03 carat Cushion Cut Diamond Invisible Gallery™ Ring

4.08 carat Cushion Lab Diamond Halo Three-Row Ring

#3 of 2024: Round Brilliant Cut

The round brilliant was invented by Belgian mathematician Marcel Tolkowsky, who calculated the angles and proportions with the precision needed to create the most breathtaking brilliant cut.

Appearance:

Unlike single cut diamonds (frequently used for melee diamond side stones with approx. 18 facets per stone) the round brilliant cut diamond contains more facets (58).

Shopping Tips:

Round Brilliant diamonds are great at masking color because of their facet arrangement. Lauren B recommends choosing a stone with a D-J color grade; however, any color grade can be suitable for a round brilliant, depending on the look the wearer wishes to achieve.
Round brilliant cut diamonds are available in every clarity grade on the GIA’s grading scale, making them the perfect choice for those who want classic elegance on any budget. For fewer inclusions, we suggest SI2 clarity and above.

3.18 carat Round Diamond Alternating Size Diamond Band Ring

2.70 carat Round Lab Diamond Two-Tone Solitaire Ring

#2 of 2024: Radiant Cut

Henry Grossbard invented the radiant cut in 1977 as an alternative to the emerald cut, which has fewer facets and less brilliance.

Appearance:

The radiant cut features 70 facets, making it one of the most glamorous shapes available. The radiant cut combines the corners of an emerald cut with an elongated rectangular shape, plus more facets for remarkable sophistication.

Shopping Tips:

As mentioned above, emerald cuts are not forgiving if the diamond has inclusions or a slight color tint. However, radiant cuts mask these imperfections. Lauren B recommends diamonds with a clarity grade of SI1 or higher, or an SI2 if the stone is eye-clean (depending on the location and size of inclusions).
Options: Radiant cuts are available in square or rectangular versions.

4.03 carat Radiant Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring

3.58 carat Radiant Cut Lab Diamond Engagement Ring

#1 of 2024: Oval Shape

Coming in at number one for the last several years in a row is the oval shape. A fantastic choice for those who love the sparkle of the round brilliant cut but want something slightly more unique yet classic.

Appearance:

The oval brilliant cut contains 57-58 facets, which is the same as the round brilliant cut. Depending on the expertise of the diamond cutter, the oval cut may appear larger than the actual carat weight if the table (top of the diamond) is cut larger, giving it a big, bold style.

Shopping Tips:

Choosing a diamond with a color grade of I or higher eliminates the possibility of slight color tints noticeable to the naked eye.
Lauren B recommends clarity grades of SI2 or above for an oval cut diamond. Oval cuts can hide inclusions within their facet arrangement, depending on their location.
Always check the symmetry of the oval cut diamond before purchasing. It takes an experienced diamond cutter to achieve perfect symmetry/ratio with oval cuts. Uneven oval cuts can make the diamond harder to set and less visually appealing.